The Cumulative GPA Section

The Cumulative GPA section is simple in that it provides a Calculate Cumulative GPA button to trigger the calculation and initiate the animated artwork generation. The numerical output is visible on the right-hand side of the section.

How to Calculate GPA

The cumulative GPA calculation itself is fairly simple. Each letter grade has a corresponding numerical value (see below for the specific breakdowns for college, high school, and weighted high school GPA scales). This number for each course is multiplied by the number of credits for the corresponding course. All of these values are then added together and the sum is divided by the total number of credits providing a weighted average.

Algorithmically Generated Artwork

Our Memory Maps Team wants to inspire you and remind you that your educational journey is not just about the destination or level of attainment, but also about the unique path and choices you make along the way. To reflect this, we’ve incorporated algorithmically generated artwork that uses your unique inputs from the GPA calculator fields as the seed for its generation process. The artwork is animated as it develops toward its final image, further reflecting the unique path of evolution it, and you, take toward final form.

This relationship between the inputs provided and artwork generated are not random, which means that if you provide the same inputs you will receive the same output. Feel free to play with and explore the diversity of artwork generated from different inputs.

A social share link for the artwork is available, which allows the entire animation (not just the final image) to be shared. When you share your animated artwork, an embedded image of the final artwork will be created which will appear in your social media post. When your friends open the link, they will be able to experience the artwork animation displayed full screen just like it can be experienced at the GPA Calculator site. Because there is no clearly distinguishable correlation between the artwork generated and your inputs, you can feel confident that your GPA won’t be identifiable from the artwork.

Informative Plots for Higher Education Options

Regardless of whether you are calculating your high school or college GPA, informative plots are available to help you understand the academic performance needed for higher education options. All plots show Average GPA for students accepted into the higher education options listed (on the x-axis) vs. the relevant standardized test (or entrance exam) score for the program (on the y-axis). For undergraduates, this test is the SAT, while for graduate programs it is the GRE, LSAT, or MCAT.

Individual programs are plotted as points with different colors representing their acceptance rate (or competitiveness). For desktop users, mouse over the points to receive more information about the university or school. On mobile, tap the point to open additional information, and tap anywhere outside the information field to close this field.

See your cumulative GPA plotted as a purple vertical dotted line on the graph to compare your current GPA with the averages for accepted students. A slider below the graph can be clicked and dragged to move a second vertical line to a different GPA value. This value represents your target GPA and can be used, in conjunction with the data plotted, to plan and visualize your GPA goals.

Calculating Your Required GPA

The area directly below the graph contains the summary section which includes your Calculated Cumulative GPA, Target GPA, Estimated Remaining Credits and GPA Needed for Remaining Credits.

Target GPA is an editable number field which is linked to the graph slider. When the slider is moved, this value updates and when the value is updated, the slider moves.

Estimated Remaining Credits is also an editable number field to be inputted based on your program requirements. By default this value is assumed to be:

If the value is calculated to be negative it is set to zero.

Finally, these three values are used to calculate your GPA Needed for Remaining Credits which gives you an indication of the GPA that must be obtained for your remaining courses/credits in order to achieve your Target GPA. This is calculated using the relationship:

If the Target GPA is not achievable given the Estimated Remaining Credits, the user is informed that the goal is out of range. With this tool, we hope that users like you are able to identify good academic goals for your specific objectives that are informed by real data from higher education programs.

College GPA Graphs

We have provided plots for the most common higher education options following completion of an undergraduate college program.

Medical School

While medical school requirements differ between programs, all programs require the submission of a student’s GPA and MCAT scores. To understand the typical MCAT score range and GPAs for students accepted into medical school programs, we created a scatter plot of medical school programs with their corresponding accepted student median GPAs on the x-axis and their median MCAT scores on the y-axis. Programs are plotted as points with various colors to differentiate acceptance rates. Mouse over on desktop (or click on mobile) the points to reveal more detailed information about the schools. Data for medical school programs is from 2021 [2].

Graduate School - PhD Programs

While PhD program requirements differ between programs, all programs require the submission of a student’s GPA and GRE scores. To understand the typical GRE score range and GPAs for students accepted into PhD programs, we created a scatter plot of PhD programs with their corresponding average GPAs for accepted students on the x-axis and their average GRE scores on the y-axis. Programs are plotted as points with various colors to differentiate acceptance rates. Mouse over on desktop (or click on mobile) the points to reveal more detailed information about the schools such as GRE percentiles (25th, 50th and 75th) for the GRE Quant and GRE Verbal sections of the test as well as GPA percentiles. While data from PhD programs is from 2015 [3], it is a comprehensive data set that provides good directional guidance for planning and evaluation purposes.

Law School

While law school requirements differ between programs, all programs require the submission of a student’s GPA and LSAT score. To understand the typical LSAT score range and GPAs for students accepted into law school programs, we created a scatter plot of law school programs with corresponding average GPAs for accepted students on the x-axis and their average LSAT scores on the y-axis. Programs are plotted as points with various colors to differentiate acceptance rates. Mouse over on desktop (or click on mobile) the points to reveal more detailed information about the schools such as LSAT percentiles (25th, 50th and 75th) as well as GPA percentiles. Data for law school programs is from 2020 and 2019 [4].

Weighted GPA

Weighted GPAs are typical in high schools and are calculated by awarding additional grade points depending on the type of class taken. It is thought that by providing additional grade points, educators can properly incentivize students to take more difficult courses in which they might otherwise receive lower grades. The relationship between type of course and additional grade point added can be found below; the changes are automatically applied when a user of the weighted GPA calculator enters their course types. For example, while the letter grade of B+ when received in a regular course would have an equivalent grade point of 3.3, that same letter grade received in an honors course would have a grade point of 3.8, and in an AP course have a corresponding grade point of 4.3.

Average GPA Graphs

Students are typically required to submit their GPA and SAT scores in order to apply for undergraduate programs at universities. To understand the typical SAT score range and GPAs for students accepted into 4-year degree programs, we created a scatter plot of colleges with corresponding average GPAs on the x-axis and average SAT scores on the y-axis. Programs are plotted as points with various colors to differentiate acceptance rates. Mouse over on desktop (or click on mobile) the points to reveal more detailed information about the schools. Data for undergraduate school programs is from 2020 and 2021 [6].